Tuesday, December 10, 2019

(W)happy Tails

Josie, my oldest, has her ways. I’ve described at some point in this blog’s past how she will sometimes stand next to me and swing her tail so that it wraps around me. I think it’s one of her several means of showing affection, or perhaps simply letting me know that she is there. But that rat-tail of hers serves another purpose.


When My Chubs is expecting something, or wants something, such as dinner, she will stand near something wooden, the micro-wave oven stand, for example, or the partition that separates the dining area from the entrance hall. She will swing her tail and make a continual thumping noise, indicating her slight impatience (greater impatience is demonstrated by a creaky squeal like the failing brakes of a runaway locomotive.)


She must know that her tail is thumping, and she has done it too often for it to be accidental. It is her summons. If she were human, Madam Josefina von Chubs would be ringing a handbell like a maniacal Christmas carol performer at a church fête, and expecting the footman to come running. (I am the only running footman.)


I am learning all the time about cats and their ways, their intelligence, their improvisations, and their individuality. In Josie, I clearly have all three to deal with simultaneously.


17 comments:

  1. HeHe! Bless! I was always brought up to
    believe that opposite to a dog, when a
    cat waves it's tail..it's cross! :(.
    It could be the cat is unsure of something,
    combined with a little excitement or curiosity...

    And..l've just cheated and found this on line...
    What does a cat's tail movements mean.....???
    When your cat holds her tail high in the air as she moves about her territory, she's expressing confidence and contentment. A tail that sticks straight up signals happiness and a willingness to be friendly. And watch the tip of an erect tail. A little twitch can mean a particularly happy moment...
    (Good old Google)..

    So..Perhaps Josie still has a 'tail' to tell...Bless!x

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  2. A cat tail is very useful in Josie's world. Something to be
    aware of when she's on point!

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  3. Thank you for making me smile. Clearly the lack of our ability to speak cat and a cat's lack of ability to speak our language, is no barrier to communication. :-D

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  4. How it's done in an old-fashioned home:
    *bell ringing*
    "Oh Jeeves! Bring my afternoon tea, will you please?"
    How it's done at I Have Three Cats:
    *Josie's tail thump thump thumping*

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    Replies
    1. That’s about it, except that I have neither the wage nor the prestige of a gentlemen’s gentleman. But I do have Josie…

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    2. You DO have the prestige there at the Cozy Apartment. There is none other that will dare take your standing within the family, I daresay.

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  5. I have noted that cats tend to use their tails as signal flags. Or, as you suggest, bells to summon the servants.

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  6. It seems Josie has you well trained. Isn't it wonderful how quickly humans learn who is boss! :-)

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  7. What a great post! Like you, I'm learning all the time with my cat's behavior. I love Josie's signal to you! How smart she is and how smart you are too obey!

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  8. Josie: point across
    Dad: point taken

    score: even...

    ahhh...but is it !! ??

    ☺☺♥♥

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  9. Josie has trained you well to come running at her command.

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  10. Awww..sounds like her version of tapping her fingers to show impatience :)

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  11. Josie is very talented and purrsistent too!

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  12. I love the bell ringing conclusion. I think that's right on the money! And I like Pilch92's comment. Goes perfectly along with the first conclusion and too, is right on the money.

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  13. Josie is pretty darn smart! I won't tell Sasha and Saku about this, they're already noisy enough when it's meal time.

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